"For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him." (II Chronicles 16:9)
The description of being FULLY COMMITTED to the Lord is used only thrice in the whole Bible (NIV). All three uses are in connection with King Asa of Judah. In chapter 15 of II Chronicles (and chapter 15 of I Kings), we read about the first 35 years of King Asa's reign, when he was fully committed to the Lord. Chapter 16 of II Chronicles is about his later years, when he strayed from the Lord.
When Asa was fully committed to the Lord, he listened to the Lord's prophet, Azariah son of Oded. Listening to Azariah, Asa took courage and rid the country of all the detestable idols. Asa was so thorough in this task, that he even deposed his grandmother Maacah from her position as queen mother, because she had made a repulsive Asherah pole. He was making a complete severance with sin and became dead to sin (Romans 6:11). Then he repaired the altar of the Lord and brought his people together to make sacrifices to the Lord. In worshipping the Lord, Asa and his people entered into a covenant that they would seek the Lord with all their heart and soul. They swore an oath to the Lord wholeheartedly and rejoiced in doing so. They sought the Lord and He was found by them. The country had peace for 35 years.
When Asa strayed from the Lord, he sought his own ways, rather than the Lord's (Isaiah 55:9). When Judah was invaded by Baasha king of Israel, Asa did not turn to the Lord, but chose to deal with it by a treaty with Ben-Hadad king of Aram. Asa did not remember that the Lord had delivered Judah from the invasion of a vast army of the Cushites (II Chronicles 14). When Hanani the seer came to rebuke the king, Asa was enraged and put the seer in prison. Later when Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet, he did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians. He ended up dying two years later.
As I seek the Lord, I must examine whether I am fully committed to Him. Full commitment in a marriage has two components: (1) I must not adulterate with any women other than my wife. (2) I must amorously love my wife and only her. Likewise, as Asa's life demonstated, full commitment to the Lord has two components: (1) I must repent of my sins and be dead to sin. (2) I must seek the Lord and love Him with all my heart, all my soul, and all my strength (Deuteronomy 6:5).
Lord, I do love You. Help me be fully committed to You. Let me be truly dead to sin and alive to You. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Always pray and do not give up
In Luke 18, Jesus tells a parable to teach His disciples that they should always pray and not give up. The parable is of a widow who petitions an unjust judge to grant her justice against her adversary. Although the judge dismisses her for some time, in the end he is worn out and accedes to her request. Jesus concludes that if the unjust judge is willing to hear the widow, how much more would God the Father listen to our pleas? Would He keep putting us off?
This parable was told right after Jesus told about the Coming of the Kingdom of God. The justice the widow is seeking is probably representing the ultimate justice the saints of the Lord are seeking (Revelations 6:9-11), the justice that will come about with the Second Coming of the Lord. But the persistent prayer that we are to raise to the Father without giving up or fainting or being discouraged is probably not just about the ultimate justice.
Jesus taught us to pray with confidence that our Heavenly Father would give us the good gifts that we ask for: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 7:7-12). Luke makes it clear that the good gift that Jesus is referring to is the Holy Spirit: "If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" (Luke 11:13).
Lately, I have been praying for the Holy Spirit to be poured down on me and to empower me with His presence and His gifts. I have not felt that my prayers have been answered yet. Though the Holy Spirit certainly dwells in me and guides me, I am not experiencing His power in my life. At times, I even ask the question, "why is God putting off granting me the good gift?" Why, Lord, are you waiting?
Is it because God's time for me to be empowered with the Spirit has not come? I should nevertheless not despair, but persist in praying continually. Or, is it because I am not ready to be empowered by the Spirit? A new wine is not to be put into an old wineskin, but into a new one, so that it will not burst and be ruined (Matthew 9:17, Mark 2:22, Luke 5:37). Perhaps I need to become a new "wineskin." Perhaps I need to be transformed by the renewing of my mind and offer my body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God (Romans 12:1-2). My life must be a continual act of spiritual worship. But this transformation is also an act of the Spirit, not my own.
Lord, as you promised, I am seeking the good gift of the Holy Spirit and Your empowering presence in my life. Do not let me conform to the patterns of this world, but let me be transformed and be a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to You. Help me persist in praying without becoming discouraged. Lord, have mercy on me. In Jesus' name. Amen.
This parable was told right after Jesus told about the Coming of the Kingdom of God. The justice the widow is seeking is probably representing the ultimate justice the saints of the Lord are seeking (Revelations 6:9-11), the justice that will come about with the Second Coming of the Lord. But the persistent prayer that we are to raise to the Father without giving up or fainting or being discouraged is probably not just about the ultimate justice.
Jesus taught us to pray with confidence that our Heavenly Father would give us the good gifts that we ask for: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 7:7-12). Luke makes it clear that the good gift that Jesus is referring to is the Holy Spirit: "If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" (Luke 11:13).
Lately, I have been praying for the Holy Spirit to be poured down on me and to empower me with His presence and His gifts. I have not felt that my prayers have been answered yet. Though the Holy Spirit certainly dwells in me and guides me, I am not experiencing His power in my life. At times, I even ask the question, "why is God putting off granting me the good gift?" Why, Lord, are you waiting?
Is it because God's time for me to be empowered with the Spirit has not come? I should nevertheless not despair, but persist in praying continually. Or, is it because I am not ready to be empowered by the Spirit? A new wine is not to be put into an old wineskin, but into a new one, so that it will not burst and be ruined (Matthew 9:17, Mark 2:22, Luke 5:37). Perhaps I need to become a new "wineskin." Perhaps I need to be transformed by the renewing of my mind and offer my body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God (Romans 12:1-2). My life must be a continual act of spiritual worship. But this transformation is also an act of the Spirit, not my own.
Lord, as you promised, I am seeking the good gift of the Holy Spirit and Your empowering presence in my life. Do not let me conform to the patterns of this world, but let me be transformed and be a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to You. Help me persist in praying without becoming discouraged. Lord, have mercy on me. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
National Consciousness
The 2010 edition of the World Cup is being played in South Africa this month. 32 countries from around the globe have been fortunate and skilled enough to qualify for the main event. Koreans are represented by both South Korea and North Korea at the World Cup. As an ethnic Korean, I cannot help rooting for the team from South Korea, while harboring some sympathy and hope even for the team from North Korea. This morning when I woke up, the first news I checked was what happened to the game between South Korea and Greece. I was overjoyed upon learning that Korea beat Greece by a score of 2 to 0. (My second-generation son in California told me he got up at 3 AM to watch the game.) I kept reading any and all articles about this game, even though I already knew all that there was to know about it, because I wanted to bask in the victory. Is such nationalist consciousness (some might even call it nationalism) consistent with the Bible?
There is no question that all nations and peoples descended from one man, Adam -- more specifically from one of Adam's descendants -- Noah after the great flood (Genesis 10). Greeks or Koreans, we are all related to one another. Human genomic studies also prove that despite differences in outward appearance, all men and women are more than 99.9 % the same in their genetic makeup. And, "there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28, also see Colossians 3:11). As a Christian then, should I insist on maintaining my ethnic and national identity and root for my own nation above others?
I think the answer is a resounding yes. Paul spoke to the citizens of Athens, "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us." (Acts 17:24-27). God is the author of the multiplicity and diversity of nations. He allowed this to happen. When people rebelled against His command to "be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth" (Genesis 9:1 as well as Genesis 1:28) and tried to build a tower so as not to be scattered over the face of the earth (Genesis 11:4), God confused their language and scattered them (Genesis 11:7-8). God made them into different nations and is sovereign over the rise and fall of nations (Daniel 4). God gives authority and power to whomever He is pleased with and He sets the times and boundaries of nations (Acts 17:26), so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out and find Him (Acts 17:27). His sovereignty over nations and His works in man's history are one way His divine nature is manifested to mankind (Romans 1:19-20). And the diversity of nations is not just for this world, but will be maintained even in the New World, New Jerusalem (Revelations 21:22-26).
Paul, who preached that we are all one in Christ, maintained a strong love of his people, the nation of Israel. He wrote, "I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel." (Romans 9:2-4). This is, of course, reminiscent of Moses' intercessory prayer after the Israelites made a golden calf and worshiped it: "please forgive their sin — but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written." (Exodus 32:32).
God's creation is all the more beautiful because of the diversity, including the diversity of cultures and nations. His glory and majesty is more appropriately revealed in the diversity, rather than in monotone and uniformity. I need not be ashamed or guilty of my national consciousness. While my Christian love would extend to all nations, peoples and ethnic groups, I should and will maintain and sing of my cultural heritage and distinctiveness.
There is no question that all nations and peoples descended from one man, Adam -- more specifically from one of Adam's descendants -- Noah after the great flood (Genesis 10). Greeks or Koreans, we are all related to one another. Human genomic studies also prove that despite differences in outward appearance, all men and women are more than 99.9 % the same in their genetic makeup. And, "there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28, also see Colossians 3:11). As a Christian then, should I insist on maintaining my ethnic and national identity and root for my own nation above others?
I think the answer is a resounding yes. Paul spoke to the citizens of Athens, "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us." (Acts 17:24-27). God is the author of the multiplicity and diversity of nations. He allowed this to happen. When people rebelled against His command to "be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth" (Genesis 9:1 as well as Genesis 1:28) and tried to build a tower so as not to be scattered over the face of the earth (Genesis 11:4), God confused their language and scattered them (Genesis 11:7-8). God made them into different nations and is sovereign over the rise and fall of nations (Daniel 4). God gives authority and power to whomever He is pleased with and He sets the times and boundaries of nations (Acts 17:26), so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out and find Him (Acts 17:27). His sovereignty over nations and His works in man's history are one way His divine nature is manifested to mankind (Romans 1:19-20). And the diversity of nations is not just for this world, but will be maintained even in the New World, New Jerusalem (Revelations 21:22-26).
Paul, who preached that we are all one in Christ, maintained a strong love of his people, the nation of Israel. He wrote, "I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel." (Romans 9:2-4). This is, of course, reminiscent of Moses' intercessory prayer after the Israelites made a golden calf and worshiped it: "please forgive their sin — but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written." (Exodus 32:32).
God's creation is all the more beautiful because of the diversity, including the diversity of cultures and nations. His glory and majesty is more appropriately revealed in the diversity, rather than in monotone and uniformity. I need not be ashamed or guilty of my national consciousness. While my Christian love would extend to all nations, peoples and ethnic groups, I should and will maintain and sing of my cultural heritage and distinctiveness.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)